Follower of Christ, wife, homeschooling mother to 4 blessings and lover of organization!! I love creating planner pages. Colorful planner pages!!
Welcome and Enjoy!
We are back into the swing of homeschooling. The new year came and we are studying our multiplication facts.
We have been homeschooling for over 20 years. My younger two did a Classical curriculum from the start. We have used Classical Conversations and Claritas Press Academy.
With Classical conversations, we started out with them. We did their skip counting and had it all memorized from kindergarten. CC then changed from going to 12, to going all the way to the 15’s!
We ended up going back to Claritas BUT , stayed with CC’s skip counting because they had been so ingrained in us.
CC has the students memorize all the skip counting and then when they go into Essentials, they memorize them as full equations, 4x1=4, etc.
I love that. I purchased the songs from KingThings, another CC Family. I love the songs and soon realized that my younger child, was learning them. I wanted a visual to go along with the song.
I am no longer focusing on skip counting but now on complete multiplication tables.
Although my son is only in 3rd grade, we’re working on memorizing all the tables rather than the skip counting.
The visual presentation I created helps. Both my children love the backgrounds I created.
I created these and linked each set across the top of every page so that you can navigate anywhere in the presentation you want.
We like to focus on one set a week. Currently we’re memorizing all the 4’s.
I did NOT animate this because you may not be using the same music or song that we’re using. You can upload this and it will work in ANY PDF reader. The links will work in any reader.
I have a separate file for Goodnotes Users. You can just upload it directly to Goodnotes.
You can upload both files for free.
I never charge for my creations, I just ask That you NOT share them with anyone. IF someone wants a copy, please send them here to my Blog. You can subscribe to my blog to be notified of new posts. You can also follow me on Pinterest (Mother4Jesus) and on Instagram (mother4Jesus).
I have tipped my toes into the world of digital planning. Ok, so maybe I did MORE than just my toes.
Ok, Ok, I dove in head first!!
Why Digital planning??
*It’s fun
*It’s Portable
*It’s colorful
*It saves on Printer Ink
*It’s a creative outlet
*My children LOVE all the cute stickers
The list goes on....
I had started with Artful Agenda, which is a digital planning App. It syncs up with all your devices. It’s a great option, especially for those who really don’t want to or have the time to set up a digital PDF Planner. Click on the Link for my Review of The Artful Agenda App.
While the app is great and amazing, I couldn’t really use or decorate the planner the way I wanted to.
after much research, trial and error, I have found a combination that works for me. Actually, I’ve found MANY combinations that work for me. 🤷♀️😜
First you need to decide what you’re looking for.
I wanted a cute weekly planner that I could set up. Monthly is nice, but I do most of my planning on my weekly. A daily is nice but not always necessary for me.
I found a planner with ALL OF THAT and then some.
I tested out this planner for the creator, Sophie. Perfect Plan Boutique on Etsy.
**I tested this planner. I did pay for it at a discounted price. I was NEVER expected to post a review, nor was this a requirement. She had me test the planner and was just looking for me to test links and give my opinion. Creating this and the video was something I did because I enjoy helping other WAHM Women and supporting small businesses. I also I feel her product and quality surpasses expectation.**
I created a video review. I tried to make this video a short as possible. I personally love quick reviews. I don’t like long, drawn out videos. IF I didn’t show something that you want to see, Please just leave a comment or you can email me: Mother4Jesus@gmail.com
In this video, I take you through the planner and show you how easy it is to navigate from the Monthly page, weekly, Menu planner ,and even the daily page!! This planner has 365 LINKED daily pages. You also get 12 blank tabs!! I use it for my homeschooling/bible study. you could even use each tab to drop in pictures. Have a scrapbook at the end of the year. So MANY options for this planner.
The Stickers I use are from DPC Digitals. Click on the name to be take to her Etsy store. I recommend you sign up for her newsletter for monthly freebies and you can find a group for DPC on Facebook. She has a group for Fitness too!!
I didn’t go into too much detail about how I use my digital planner for homeschooling. I’ll be creating another video about that later in the month. I will also be offering free weekly & attendance downloads for homeschoolers.
How can we make cursive fun? This is a tough question.
I don't usually worry about making everything fun. I know that is what most people focus on, but to be honest, I don't. There are many things in life that are simply, NOT fun. No matter how hard you try. I find that attitude plays a bigger role. If we complain about doing something, then it will be hard, boring, annoying....fill in the adverb.
I usually don't allow complaining, and we constantly go over scripture about not complaining.
"For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil"
Matthew 12:34-35
" Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."
Philippians 2:14-15
There are so many great scriptures about having the right mind-set, holding our thoughts captive & and not trusting our own hearts. Clearly, the Lord knew that our attitudes would be our biggest challenge.
Nothing exemplifies this concept like homeschooling. I've seen my intelligent, hard-working, happy children go from joyful to down-right UGLY due to poor attitudes. This is probably why I've worked so hard on this issue. Not that we're better than most, but that we've got an issue with this. I'd like to say that they get it from me, but that would be too transparent and open for me. 👻
For Christmas, my husband surprised me with an Ipad Pro. I was amazed!! It was really a great gift. I love to create documents, which I post here on my blog for free. I started using it and immediately fell in love with it. I love all Apple Products but this takes the prize!!
One of the apps I was interested in was one called "Procreate". This is an app for people who love to draw. Many use it to create PNG Stickers, planner stickers, etc. I decided to download it. It's a 10.00 app. I realized that it's way more than I needed BUT, still, I love it. I found Ipad Lettering by accident. It's an art form of lettering that I really like. The investment was minimal and I get to work the creative side of my brain. I never really thought I was the "creative" type but as I get older, I realize... I am.
I was finding it a little overwhelming to learn modern calligraphy. I'm 50, so learning these new things can be tough. I knew that If I stuck with it, that I'd eventually get the hang of it. As I was learning, I came across a website, Ipad Lettering. She had these colorful, learning sheets for Procreate. This peaked my interest. I watched her video about them and knew that this is what I needed. The brush that comes with them for Procreate, has two colors that are pressure sensitive. This
helps you to see where you are pressing too hard, or too softly. I waited a few days and decided to take the plunge. I was really enjoying it, when my 11 y/o daughter saw me and asked to try it. There went my Ipad. She was doing it, we were like two children fighting over a new toy. Then, I had a moment of genius!!! (It's rare, but when it happens, it's great).
If Sarah was enjoying caligraphy , perhaps David would enjoy learning his cursive?? I downloaded some cursive sheets into Procreate, showed him the brush. He picked two colors, reluctantly. After all, it was, as he said, "Stupid". ( I guess we need more work on attitude?). He started writing and again....I lost my Ipad. He was immediately drawn to the colors and loves playing with the different pressures. He now has fun selecting different colors and playing with tip size. All this while learning cursive. I'd say that is a win!!!
On her website, Ipad Lettering, She has an "Ipad Lettering Starter Kit", This includes a sheet to practice with and a Brush for Procreate. (Click on the link ) She also has some other free pages to practice with.
If you decide to go for the rainbow brush, she has a set of brushes, OR you can buy the Rainbow practice brush, as I did with the sheets to practice on. I have my eye on her rainbow brush collection.
I love the idea of importing in the documents to help the kids. Another idea i'm going to try, is importing in maps for my children to trace over. We are currently drawing all the countries of Africa. I think i'm going to try to find a detailed map for them to trace in Procreate.
I've included a quick video, very poorly made to show you quickly how the brush works with Procreate. This is good for those who need a visual, like me.
**Before I get emails telling me that I can create my own dual-colored rainbow brushes in Procreate, I DO KNOW THAT. I even know HOW to do it. I just don't always have the time to play around with the settings AND I like to support other women and other work at home moms.
The new year has started and we've been running from the start!
We've been busy with gymnastics and taekwondo!! Never a dull moment here.
I can't believe February is almost here. To celebrate, I created some cute planner covers and dividers.
These match my February Poster!
These can be used in any planner. Simply Print, put in a page protector, laminate, and write in what you want. You can edit these in any program. I am uploading PDF and JPG versions. The PDF version can also be used in any portrait-sized digital planner. The Jpg version can be inserted as a graphic on the page of any document/digital planner. You can resize these, they're a high resolution, you just want to make sure you keep the same aspect ration/constrain the proportions.
For those living in Australia, their new year hasn't started off well. Many of the graphics I get from Janelle from Chantahlia Design. The fires have devastated many on that Island. She started a campaign to help those affected by the fire. Please pray for Australia and think about contributing. You contact her by clicking on the link and sending her a message.
She offers her items for FREE!! She makes money by people visiting her website, as I do. Please do NOT share these files with anyone! Have them come here to download.
If you'd like to be notified when I have new freebie, then subscribe here to my blog. You can Also follow me on Instagram/Mother4Jesus and on Pinterest/Mother4Jesus.
Happy New year!! 2020 is here. That means a fresh start for resolutions and a fresh start for an organizational overhaul!
For me, it's imperative that my children help. As a homeschooling mom, there is no way I'd be able to do all that I do without their help.
We are a family. We learn together, We have fun together and We clean together!
One way that helps my children are Zone cleaning cards. I posted some free ones here.
The ones I posted are printable. You can print, laminate and bind them.
I recently created a digital school planner and my children liked it! I love that I can edit it weekly and design it with fun graphics. They enjoy that too.
I decided to try zone cleaning digitally!
I created this digital zone cleaning for Goodnotes users. I have the PDF and the Goodnotes file for you to download for free.
Just import into Goodnotes and edit as you'd like. If you want to edit it in another PDF editor, then the PDF will help you. The links should work well with the PDF File in any PDF editor.
**IF you don't want to use this as a digital document, you can download the PDF File, edit it. Print it, laminate it and use it!!
I created each "Zone" / "Room" in a tab. I have 4 blank tabs that are linked. you can edit them as you want.
I used the font "Noteworthy". This font is cute and is one that works in all or most PDF editors.
The background is from Chantahlia Designs. This is from her "Family" Set. Janelle offers her sets for free. All other graphics in this planner are mine. Please respect all copyright laws with the artwork.
There is one file for both. You can download the Goodnotes file, the PDF or both. Please do NOT share these files directly with anyone. I don't charge for them, I work on the honor system. When people click on my blog link, the advertising is where I make my money!! Thank you for supporting me! My blog, Pinterest and Instagram grew this year and I have all of you to thank!
For examples of how I use this, Please follow me on Instagram! Mother4Jesus
To be notified when I have another freebie, Please subscribe to my blog and for fun, you can also follow me on Pinterest! Come and share your ideas with me.
